|
Racist leaflet the work of rivals, NDP's Bains claims
Ted Colley
A Surrey NDP candidate believes leaflets distributed in the Newton riding are part of a dirty-tricks campaign aimed at him.
A leaflet surfaced in the riding on the weekend, carrying photos of Bains and his Liberal opponent, Daniel Igali. Over Igali's picture is the phrase "Don't vote ugly black," while Bains' photo bears the caption, "Vote pretty brown."
While the leaflet is a racist slur aimed at Igali, who was born in Nigeria, Bains claims its intent is to damage him and the NDP's chances in the riding prior to Tuesday's vote.
"It's to show someone supporting me is behind this. It was simply put out to make me look like I'm doing that kind of politics," Bains said Monday.
"I will never, never allow anyone working for me to do that."
Bains said he didn't believe anyone officially connected to any campaign would have produced and distributed such a leaflet, but said a few voters in the riding have told him the race issue has been raised by people claiming to be working on behalf of Igali.
"I was out door-knocking a couple of weeks ago and a woman told me someone who said they were from the Liberals called and asked if she would vote for Igali. When she said no...the voice asked if it was because he's black," Bains said.
Igali was furious at any suggestion his people were involved.
The leaflet, he said, is disgusting and the product of "a sick mind."
"But I was more disappointed with the actions of the NDP. They tried to put a spin on it...saying somehow someone is doing this because they are losing their campaign," Igali said.
"That is ridiculous and uncalled for, and not in any way something any candidate should be saying."
A second leaflet also turned up in Newton purporting to be an endorsement of Bains by two prominent, but controversial, Punjab political figures, S. Prakash Singh Badal and Bibi Jagir Kaur.
The leaflet bears their photos, along with that of Bains, and text endorsing his bid for the seat.
"There is a huge following for them, but there's a huge opposition as well. This is all fake, this leaflet. It's somebody who doesn't want me to win."
posted on 05/18/2005
|
